Apparatus for distilling



(No Model.)

D. P. BROWN & J. W. NEELEY.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING.

No. 361,671. Patented Apr.-Z6, 1887.

WITNESSES By their/EMF (31/3 N, PETERS. PhnluLilhngmphur. Washinglnn. n.c.

UNITED STATES DAVID P. BROlVN AND JOHN NV. NEELEY, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FO R DISTILLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,671, dated April 26, 1327.

Application filed October 18, 1882.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, DAVID P. BROWN and JOHN W. NEELEY, of Franklin, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have 5 invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Apparatus for Distilling, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

Our invention relates to improvements in 1 distilling apparatus adapted chiefly for distilling petroleum-oils, but capable of use for dist1lling vegetable oils or gums, such as turpentine, rosin, &c.

This invention is an improvement upon that disclosed in our application for Letters Patent of the United States filed September 15, 1:82, and numbered 71,888.

Our present object is to provide an im'- proved method and apparatus by which the ra- 0 pidity and economy of distillation of oils may be increased, and a residual product produced purer and freer from carbonized matter than is usual in the ordinary processes of distilling oils. This was the object of our said invention 2 embraced in theabove-recited application; but

we have now by ourpresent invention more perfectly accomplished the object by the method and means which we will now set forth in detail.

By reference to the accompanying drawing,

illustrating ourinvention,we will firstindicate so much as is embraced in our said applica tion, and then proceed to designate our present improvements.

A indicates the walls or masonry of a furpace of any suitable construction adapted to accommodate a fire-chamber, B, for heating the retorts O and to support a series of retorts in any suitable position or relation to each other.

Dindicates asteam-pipeto be connected with 0 any suitable steam-generator,(not illustrated,)

and preferably provided with coils E and communicating by means of suitable branches and cooks into each one of the series of retorts. The branch within each retort is closed at its 5 extreme end and provided with numerous small apertures for the escape within the retorts of fine jets of steam, as illustrated.

F indicates an oil-pipe connected with any suitable oil tank or receptacle (not illustrated) high enough up to give suitable pressure, and

provided with coils G and extending into the Serial No. 74,540. (No model.)

upper one of the series of retorts at one end and passing through to the other end, where it is sealed or plugged. This oil-pipe within-the retort is provided, like the steam-pipe, with numerous small apertures for the exit of the oil in fine jets. In this upper retort the jets of oil and steam under pressure intermingle intimately, and the jets of oil are driven violently against the internal surface of the heated retort, which very greatly facilitates and speeds the volatilization of the lighter oils. The heavier oil then passes down, by force of gravity, through the short connectingpipe H into the second retort, where the extension of the pipe H through the retort from end to end is sealed and perforated, as above described. Each successive retort below is provided with steam and oil pipes perforated and closed at their ends and operating to intermingle the tine jets of steam and oil in the same manner, except as the oil descends from the upper retort downward it will be under less pressure and will be of greater density. Consequently its jetting against the internal surface of the heated retorts under force of gravity will be diminished in energy or intensity.

The volatile or lighter products of distillation under this process rise andpass off through pipes P into suitable receptacles or condensers. (Not illustrated.) The residuum passes out from the bottom retort through the pipe Q into any suitable receptacle. (Not illustrated.)

The coils of both the oil and steam pipes are in suitable relation to the combustion-chamher, so that they serve to heat the oil and steam while on their Way to the retorts, as will be understood without description in detail. The result of this method is a rapid and effective distillation of any oil that may be treated, and, when properly operated, the residuum will be free from carbonized matter and comparatively pure and sweet in odor.

For distilling crude oils and for raising the fire-test of heavy oils, superheated or anhydrous steam is ordinarily used; but wet steam may be used for redistilling the lighter products of petroleum or increasing their fire-test. The degree of heat used will vary, as usual, and as is well understood by those who distill oils.

The foregoing is a description of the construction and operation of our improved C method andapparatus as embraced in our said application for United States Letters Patent.

We have, however, found that we can greatly improve the operation of that apparatus by providing a steamwpipe, a, which enters each retort, as indicated, and passes into each oiljet pipe, and is closed at its extreme end and provided with numerous small apertures for the escape of steam in jets within each oilpipe, as plainly illustrated in the drawing. The result of'the operation of this steam-pipe a is to bring directsteam-pressure to bear upon the oil within the oil-pipes in the retorts and cause the oil to jet out vigorously against the internal surfaces of the retorts and more intimately commingle withthe steam. Thus the diminishing effect of'the force of gravity upon the lower retorts is compensated for and the jetting of the oil from the oil-pipes is rendered substantially uniform in force. The work of the lower retorts is therefore brought up to or approximately to that of the top retort in the series, which materially adds to the efficiency and capacity of the apparatus.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Unit-ed States, is

In a retort-furnace for distilling petroleumoils, 8m, adapted to supply suitable heat, the combination of a retort or series of retorts, O,

suitably connected together, a steam-pipe, D,

DAVID P. BROWN. JOHN w. NEELEY.

\Vitnesses:

CHRISTOPHER WV; SMITH, P. R. GRAY. 

